KPMG Australia and Advance announce the first elevate61 accelerator program intake

Advance and KPMG Australia have announced the eight startups taking part in their elevate61 accelerator program, designed to help high performing Australian companies fast track their growth and expand globally.

The program, which is described as “part boot camp, part connectivity for up and coming entrepreneurial companies”, aims to train companies to meet challenges they will face as they grow into globally competitive businesses. They will learn how to build a network, how to deal with enterprises, how to get business fundamentals right, and how to take the next steps to growing their business.

The companies have been taking part in workshops and roundtables this month, connecting with potential clients and investors. May will see them head over to the US for a ten day roadshow, which will take them to New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco for 10 days. Here, their goal will be to accelerate new market validation and qualify funding with Fortune 500s and other investors.

KPMG and Advance announced the program, and their partnership, in December last year. The elevate61 program combines Advance’s experience running two previous innovation programs with KPMG Australia’s experience working with entrepreneurs and other accelerator programs.

Martin Sheppard, KPMG Australia’s head of innovation, said the company is providing coaching and workshops to help companies navigate challenges such as corporate structuring, valuations, R&D, and tax and accounting.

“Likewise, we are bringing our extensive network of clients keen to share, learn and potentially collaborate with these entrepreneurs. And critically, Advance is providing its experience in delivering similar programs and introductions to potential customers and investors through its innovation ecosystem in the Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, New York, and Australia,” Sheppard said.

Serafina Maiorano, CEO of Advance, added, “elevate61 has been designed to leverage the strengths of Advance and KPMG to help participants achieve rapid traction and growth in Australia and the US through access to global corporations, US based networks of advisers and the investor community.”

Two judging panels, which included York Butter Factory’s Stuart Richardson, Angel Cube founder Adrian Stone, and former ANZ COO Derek Youdale, pored over 50 applications to make the final decision on participants.

The eight companies selected come from a variety of industries. Here they are:

Collaborative work management software solutions for the mining, factory, and construction industries. It replaces spreadsheets and whiteboards with an online system that makes it easier to create and deliver on plans.